(1) The department shall administer an environmental award program to recognize outstanding efforts in the protection, conservation, or restoration of the air, water, or other natural resources of the state by agencies, municipalities, counties, and other governmental units; private organizations, institutions, and industries; the communications media; and individuals.
(2) Awards may be approved by the secretary in the following areas:(a) Water resources and quality.
(b) Air quality.
(c) Solid and hazardous waste management.
(d) Communications through any media.
(3) An agency, municipality, county, or other governmental unit; a private organization, institution, or industry; the communications media; or an individual may submit a nomination for an award to the department at any time. A nomination must be submitted on a form adopted by the department and must include information required by the department to consider that nomination.
(4) The department may accept money from any public agency or other source to be used for the environmental award program.
